The man was charged Thursday with intentionally spreading human disease and causing serious bodily harm, crimes that have maximum penalties of five and 10 years respectively, according to the Associated Press.

It is not believed that the man himself is HIV positive.

A Swiss hospital in the region uncovered the twisted crime after coming into contact with several HIV-positive people who said they had been stuck by the man.

The investigation has been going on since 2005, said Le Matin, but took years to complete since privacy laws have made finding victims difficult.